I was wondering why players don't approach more down the middle. If you can hammer an approach shot down the middle, you can jam your opponent, and you'll cut off their angles. It would be kind of like the down the middle RoS.

Also, why do so many players do CC approach shots? It gives your opponent a lot of room to pass you if they get to your shot.

Patrick345

Aug 21st, 2011, 01:57 AM

I was wondering why players don't approach more down the middle. If you can hammer an approach shot down the middle, you can jam your opponent, and you'll cut off their angles. It would be kind of like the down the middle RoS.

Also, why do so many players do CC approach shots? It gives your opponent a lot of room to pass you if they get to your shot.

Certainly not a bad idea. Kvitova did it at Wimbledon, although mostly on her overheads smashes and sometimes on short balls she could kill. Itīs really smart, like a football penalty through the middle. Players/goalies commit to a side 80% of the time, so you just go hard through the middle.

Sammo

Aug 21st, 2011, 02:18 AM

Stoza

Break My Rapture

Aug 21st, 2011, 02:27 AM

It's easy to lob for your opponent as you just have to move your feet a couple of steps and fling your racquet through the ball with some wrist action.

As others said, Kvitova does it quite a lot but when her opponents are on to it she's pretty much gambling with giving away the point.

Spring Pools

Aug 21st, 2011, 02:28 AM

It's easy to lob for your opponent as you just have to move your feet a couple of steps and fling your racquet through the ball with some wrist action.

As others said, Kvitova does it quite a lot but when her opponents are on to it she's pretty much gambling with giving away the point.

Couldn't a player do a lob from a corner?

Otlichno

Aug 21st, 2011, 02:32 AM

Generally players don't hit the shot with the intent to go to the net. But when they hit the shot, see they've got their opponents wide they rush to the net.

Break My Rapture

Aug 21st, 2011, 02:37 AM

Couldn't a player do a lob from a corner?
I don't think it's as easy since you're most likely on the full-stretch then as opposed to standing balanced in the middle of the court.

Svetlana)))

Aug 21st, 2011, 03:42 AM

It's a great tactic but the approach shot has to be flat, hard and deep or its useless

DefyingGravity

Aug 21st, 2011, 04:31 AM

I use it to open up the rest of the approach shots on a speedier player. The more you can neutralize someone who is quick, the better because that will get them to stop guessing a few times and then you have more chance of successfully approaching crosscourt or down the line.

shoparound

Aug 21st, 2011, 05:10 AM

You got to do it perfectly or else the opponent can and will run around it and have multiple options of passing you at the net. Return down the middle is more effective because off a serve you can your opponent still finishing their service motion and not have enough time to react for it.

AcesHigh

Aug 21st, 2011, 05:29 AM

B/c it's a terrible terrible terrible idea.

Maybe you are mistaking what an approach shot is.

the jamierbelyea

Aug 21st, 2011, 05:32 AM

The crosscourt approach shot is more natural, as it's usually going in the natural direction of the ball, and they aren't trying to change the direction of the ball.

Beyond that, I think the majority of the players when they hit the shot as they head into net, they are looking to end the point with that stroke and to not have to hit a volley. Not many of todays players are consistently looking to approach and get to net.

Generally it's a short ball, and they feel they need to continue forward because they are striking the ball in no-mans land.

Volcana

Aug 21st, 2011, 05:58 AM

I was wondering why players don't approach more down the middle.Because today's playes don;t spend a lot of time at net, and the DTM approach is a direct 'your pass vs my volley'. If you're better at net than they are on the baseline, fine. But who among today's players is better at net than the opponent is on the baseline?

Venus vs outside the top 30?
Schiavone vs outside the top 15?

Against a top ten player, baseliner has a decided advantage.

AcesHigh

Aug 21st, 2011, 06:01 AM

Also, with today's strings and racquets.. it's ridiculously easy to create a lob or passing shot from the middle of the court. And the harder the pace of the approach shot.. the less backswing and less time the returner needs.

Also the point of an approach shot is to put your opponent at a disadvantage when you go for the volley. An approach shot down the middle means you better have great skills at net and great reach.

Otlichno

Aug 21st, 2011, 06:09 AM

I don't think it really matters whether you hit it cross court, down the middle, or up the line.

The most important thing to to get enough depth or get a good enough angle, once that's done the opponent will find it way too difficult to hit a good enough pass or lob. Most of the time, players come to the net with bad approach shots or hit a terrible first volley, making it way too easy to pass them or lob them. :shrug:

Either way, it's just not natural for most of the players these days to come forward anyways.

moby

Aug 21st, 2011, 06:22 AM

Because the only way most players can put away a volley these days is if they have an open court to hit the ball into.

Apoleb

Aug 21st, 2011, 07:08 AM

For a good reason. You give them far too much time to hit the passing shot.